The Anjouan iGaming license is an offshore gaming authorization issued from the Autonomous Island of Anjouan, part of the Union of the Comoros. It has become a popular, lower-cost alternative to Curacao for online casino and sportsbook operators, and it covers both B2C operators and B2B software suppliers. It is not a tier-one European license, and this guide is careful to say what it does — and doesn’t — actually provide.
If you’re weighing where to license an iGaming brand, here’s a clear, current look at how Anjouan works, what it costs, who regulates it, and how it stacks up against Curacao.
What Is the Anjouan iGaming License?
An Anjouan license is a jurisdictional permit that lets a company legally offer online gaming — casino, sportsbook, esports betting, and related products — to players in markets that don’t prohibit it. Its main appeal is cost and speed: it’s cheaper and generally faster to obtain than most regulated licenses, which makes it attractive to startups and operators entering new markets.
What it is not is an equivalent to the Malta Gaming Authority (MGA) or UK Gambling Commission. Those regimes carry far heavier player-protection enforcement and market access. Anjouan is an entry-level offshore license — useful, but to be assessed on its real merits rather than marketing claims.
Who Issues and Regulates It?
This is where older write-ups (including our previous version) got it wrong, so to be precise: the license is granted under the laws of the Autonomous Island of Anjouan, Union of the Comoros, and oversight is split between two bodies:
- The Anjouan Betting and Gaming Board (ABGB) supervises gaming operations and technical integrity.
- The Anjouan Offshore Finance Authority (AOFA) handles financial supervision and enforces AML/CFT (anti-money-laundering / counter-terrorist-financing) compliance.
So when a site says it’s “Anjouan licensed,” that authorization sits under this Comoros-based framework — not a corporate-services agent, as is sometimes claimed.
B2C and B2B Licenses
Anjouan licenses both sides of the industry:
- B2C — operators and bookmakers offering games directly to players.
- B2B — software providers, aggregators, and game-content suppliers.
A notable recent development: Anjouan tightened its rules so that suppliers serving Anjouan-licensed operators must themselves hold a local B2B license (or a recognized equivalent). A clear real-world example is aggregator Slotegrator, which obtained an Anjouan B2B license in 2025 — valid for one year and renewed annually — specifically to stay aligned with these requirements and keep serving its operator clients. It’s a useful signal that the jurisdiction is formalizing its supply chain rather than leaving it unregulated.
Anjouan vs. Curacao
For years, Curacao was the default budget license. That changed as Curacao overhauled its framework, pushing many operators to compare alternatives — and Anjouan was the obvious one. The practical trade-offs:
- Cost — Anjouan is typically cheaper to obtain and maintain.
- Speed — applications can move quickly relative to newly reformed regimes.
- Recognition — Curacao still has broader name recognition with players and payment providers, though Anjouan’s profile is rising.
If you’re researching both, our guides to getting a Curacao gambling license and why the Curacao license remains popular are worth reading alongside this one. For a wider view, see our roundup of the best gambling license to start an iGaming business.
Anjouan for Esports and Niche Betting
The license’s flexibility makes it a common pick for esports betting and other fast-moving verticals. Because the framework balances oversight with operational latitude, platforms can roll out new betting products and markets without the heavier procedural load of a tier-one regulator — provided they keep to the core principles of fair play and player integrity. Combined with its global operational scope (subject to local laws where players reside) and lower cost, that flexibility is why newer esports and crypto-betting brands often start here.
Costs, Application, and Compliance
Getting licensed involves comprehensive documentation, software/RNG audits, corporate due diligence, and AML/KYC controls. Costs are modest by industry standards — commonly cited in the low five figures per year, though exact fees change, so confirm current pricing directly. [verify current fees before publish]
Compliance is also evolving: as of 2026, Anjouan-licensed operators are expected to use a designated ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) provider for player complaints — a meaningful step toward stronger consumer process. [verify ADR rule specifics before publish]
What an Anjouan License Does — and Doesn’t — Mean
To keep this honest: an Anjouan license confirms a company is authorized within a recognized offshore framework with AML and audit requirements. It does not by itself guarantee the same player protections, dispute enforcement, or market access as MGA/UKGC licensing, and some banks and payment providers still treat lower-tier offshore licenses cautiously. For operators, it’s a practical, cost-effective starting point. For players, it’s a baseline signal of legitimacy — not a guarantee of recourse. Judge any licensed site on its full track record, not the license badge alone.
Conclusion
The Anjouan iGaming license has earned its reputation as a lower-cost, faster alternative to Curacao, covering both B2C and B2B operations under a Comoros-based framework (the ABGB and AOFA), with compliance steadily tightening — from supplier B2B licensing to the 2026 ADR requirement. It’s a sensible entry point for startups, esports books, and crypto-facing brands, as long as everyone is clear about what it is: a practical offshore license, not a tier-one European one.
For official and current details, see the Anjouan Gaming regulatory authority and SOFTSWISS’s Anjouan licence guide.
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